Spanish Grand Prix Preview

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Ida Iannone, Pro-Tech Automotive manager, pairs a fast paced lifestyle with a finger on the pulse of all things Automotive and Motorsport.

This Sunday, the Spanish Grand Prix is once again upon us.

Demanding, varied and always susceptible to weather difficulties on track, when it comes to the Circuit de Barcelona there’s always something a little different in the air.

Often seen as the more measured, technical track on the F1 calendar, the circuit style found in the heartland of Catalunya puts every aspect of a driver’s car to the test. Strong aerodynamic balance, top speeds on straights and impeccable braking and traction are all essential parts of a strong performance in Barcelona. Although this mix might not be the most conducive for a heart-stopping race of overtaking and drama, the Spanish Grand Prix is always seen as an important moment. Due to its technical demands, at the close of play, we usually have a good understanding as to which drivers have the potential to go the distance over a 21 race campaign.

Turning towards the drivers themselves, there seems like no other place to start than with the topsy-turvy world of Red Bull. Indeed, after promoting promising young Belgian Max Verstappen in place of Daniil Kvyat, all eyes will be firmly on the Red Bull team to see if their gamble will pay off. For me, Kvyat’s performances this season have been far too naive to justify blocking the path of someone like Verstappen, who as I mentioned last week, has been displaying enormous potential for the Toro Rosso.

In other news, a win on Sunday for Nico Rosberg would make him only the 3rd driver in history to log five consecutive wins from the beginning of the season. This record, which has only been matched by two others in Michael Schumacher and Nigel Mansell, would be a real statement of intent. The only person who I can realistically see toppling Rosberg on Sunday will be Lewis Hamilton, who after such a troubled start quite simply has to perform on Sunday.

Although sitting in second place - which, let’s face it, is certainly no disaster - for a driver of such natural ability, a gap of 47 points to the leader is just too much. That said, with a new hybrid engine and an almost unrivaled swagger behind the wheel, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that the enigmatic character of Hamilton could be the party-spoiling thorn in Rosberg’s side this Sunday.